6 Unique & Inspiring Ways To Use Pinterest In the Field of Healthcare

A few months back we posted an introduction to Pinterest – the now third most popular social network in the U.S. behind Facbook and Twitter. As it remains the talk of the town, the buzz surrounding Pinterest is naturally giving growth to a lot of questions among many medical professionals.

A few months back we posted an introduction to Pinterest – the now third most popular social network in the U.S. behind Facbook and Twitter. As it remains the talk of the town, the buzz surrounding Pinterest is naturally giving growth to a lot of questions among many medical professionals. They are wondering how they can incorporate Pinterest into their social media strategy, and whether or not it makes sense to do so.

In my previous post, I outlined a few ways doctors can utilize Pinterest. Today, I am providing healthcare professionals some real life examples of this, which may inspire them to become involved with this site. After all, Pinterest is intended to be a “fun way to discover new things and get inspiration from people who share your interests.”

Become A Unique Resource

The MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texashas created a very useful Pinterest page that does more than just give basic information and support for cancer.  The Center has taken their efforts a step further and features boards on unique topics fanging from minority cancer awareness and cancer-fighting foods.

Embrace Your Audience

The Children’s Medical Center in Dayton, Ohio knows that its target audience is made up of parents who are concerned with the health and well-being of their children. They have set up their Pinterest boards as extensive resources for that audience.  The hospital has 22 boards dedicated to the health and well-being of children, offering resources on everything from child safety information, kids recipes, and nutrition to pregnancy and parenting tips.  The focus of their Pinterest boards are less about the hospital and its care, and more about being a resource for parents.

Ask For Help

The gift of giving has no limits, and Pinterest is no exception.  Phoenix Children’s Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona has set up boards featuring items the hospital needs for the various children taking up residency in their hospital.  While the overall presence of Children’s Hospital on Pinterest is lacking, this is a unique and very visual means of showcasing items the hospital needs for the numerous patients they treat year-round.

Be Visual

The premise of Pinterest relies heavily on imagery and visual appeal.  Baylor Health Care System in Dallas, Texasfeatures an array of health related boards, all of which are visually stimulating.  Each board cover features an image with vibrant colors and exciting imagery, which is enticing to users and will encourage clicks.

Don’t Be Afraid to Be Funny

Personality is an integral part of social media and humor on Pinterest can go a long way.  Delray Beach, Florida dentist Dr. Robert Adami features a number of amusing pins related to teeth and dentistry on the handful of boards he manages.  From the comic reenactment of an impacted tooth to unconventional shark dentistry before and after photos, Dr. Adami gives Pinterest users a more humorous spin on dentistry and focuses more on related content and less on dentistry and his practice. This is a great way to convey your personality and the style of your practice.

Be a Celebrity – Or At Least Be Seen With One

Beverly Hills Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Kevin Sands features one board on his Pinterest Page – Celebrity Smiles.  It’s not too over-the-top, as it plays into something people love to consume on a daily basis: celebrity gossip.  Seeing the likes of Britney Spears, Charlie Sheen, and Kim Kardashian at the dentist is probably amusing to many, and starstruck fans may want to repin and promote.

Not all Pinterest strategies are created equal.  What has worked for these medical professionals may not always apply to you and your practice, but it can hopefully inspire some new ideas of your own.  It’s been two month since my initial post in Pinterest, and the medical industry has still been slow to adopt.  Right now, hospitals seem to be at the forefront of the movement with individual practitioners making up nothing more than a slew of empty profiles.  Early adopters that can make Pinterest work for them could quickly harness the buying power behind Pinterest search and reap the benefits of Pinterest traffic.

What creative Pinterest uses have you come across or implemented in your practice?  Please comment and let me know!